A blogger finally made it to the state house;
There is no Republican on the ballot, which made Tuesday’s primary an all-or-nothing battle. Buhl will be the state’s youngest senator.
“Hard work really pays off,” Buhl said after taking 59 percent of the vote.
And it probably didn’t hurt that she spent $56 per vote.
Buhl was a strong fundraiser, too. She accepted $20,666 through May, mostly from political action committees, while Miles had about half as much money to work with.
In other election news, I was disappointed to see Litz get the Republican nomination for County Auditor;
As it stood Tuesday night, Litz received 4,500 votes, or 43 percent, compared to LaFollette’s 4,322, or 42 percent, and Mark Stevak’s 1,584.
Hopefully the Dems get behind Sue Nipe so we can keep Litz out of the auditor’s office. I think it is disingenuine of him to be running for another office while serving as a councilor. He should step down from the City Council while running for auditor, a county, not city position.
I was also surprised by Doogard kicking ass and taking names, and Munsterman coming in 2nd place. Howie’s second to last finish didn’t surprise me one bit. The Noem victory was no surprise at all, I actually predicted she would take 40% of the vote, and I was close. Steffy better be worried, Noem just isn’t a pretty face, she is smart businesswomen.
The idiotic anti-Sioux Falls sentiment reared its ugly head again, assuring us that our next governor will be another milquetoast crony who’s popular with the bluehairs.
I have a feeling Heidepreim will eat Dogaard alive in debates, but Dennis will still win because of the letter behind his name.
I agree, I think Heidi-scott had a better chance of beating Knudson then Doogard.
Dennis just needs to smile and wave. And not say anything stupid!- Again.
The Democratic turnout in Dist. 15 yesterday was insanely low. It’s amazing to me that a sitting Senator like Kathy Miles with 8 years in the legislature had that few strong supporters in her district.
I think Knudson had a better chance against Heidi-scott in the debates. They’re both good attorneys so the debates would have at least been entertaining.
Dennis would do well to avoid debates – especially since he’s so closely connected to Marion Rounds.
If Dennis wins, we will have another caretaker governor and a continuation of the freinds & family program 2.0.
Anna- How many registered voters (Dems and Indies) live in District 15? Voter turnout was a joke.
There are 4600 Dems and 2000 Indies in 15. I helped with Angie’s campaign, and I can tell you that virtually none of the Independents were aware they could vote in this primary. Only a handful (fewer than 10, I would bet) voted.
Did Angie do any mailings to Indies telling them they could vote?
Did Miles lose or did Angie win? I am hard pressed to say that getting 350 votes is a win. At more than $50 a vote it is sad for both candidates. I will bet there are a lot of people this morning kicking themselves but ultimately I blame the candidates.
I am not sure what else Angie could have done to engage people’s interest in the campaign. Both she and her opponent sent multiple pieces of mail to every eligible voter in the district. Angie talked to over 3,000 voters by telephone or in person, and talked with hundreds of those people more than once. She visited every precinct in the district. She published her telephone number on her mail pieces and had conversations with voters who called her with questions.
If people aren’t interested, they aren’t interested. When a candidate comes to your door three times in a week and asks you want you want people in Pierre to do for you and you have no answer to that question (happened several times on this campaign) I am not sure there is any way to make that person interested. When you call a voter at 6 p.m. who has personally talked to Angie and ask them if they’ve voted and they respond that they won’t because it’s too hot, I am not sure there’s a way to make that person interested, either. There’s only so much a candidate can do – and one thing a candidate can’t do is force people to care when they don’t care.
Frustrating isn’t it? The same people who complain about the politicians will not take the extra time to learn about them or even be bothered to vote.
Anna,
Congrats on the win. Did you get the sense that Senator Miles was pounding the pavement, too? Were the Minnehaha Co Dems involved at all in raising awareness a/b the election?
Ben,
Miles was, in fact, NOT on the ground AT ALL. Nor has she ever been for the entire time she’s been an elected official. She sent mail, she had a couple of family members leaving her fliers at people’s doors (but not speaking to them) and apparently former Rep. Mary Glenski did some phone calling in the Cathedral neighborhood on her behalf. I have always gotten the sense that Miles never felt like she had to speak to people she didn’t already know.
I don’t think the Dems did much either. I saw them on tv a little, but I think they could have been a little more active in trying to inform people as well.
Maybe the Dems didn’t want either candidate to go to Pierre? Who knows? I know Angie is going to have a tough road her first couple of years, but if she gets on some committees and makes some alliances she will standout, but I have a feeling the older, pro-life, men in the legislature will be dismissive of her.
Anna, I would suggest that many people don’t want politicians in Pierre to do anything for them (or to them). I’m just sayin’.
All well and good. I don’t think Angie’s to blame if those people don’t participate in the process.
I know that all politicians (and would-be politicians) love mass mailings, but I’d bet that at least 90% go right into the recycling bin.
I would disagree, direct mail, especially to seniors is still the best way to connect to voters. Like I said above, maybe people in the district weren’t excited about either candidate?
Thanks Angie! I’m still trying to scrub the red marker off my white door from the yellow post it that your people placed. Next time, tell them to write on the paper first then place it on the door, or better yet scrap the idea all together.
kwo: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will take care of that, no scrubbing needed.
Rubbing alcohol works great to.